Work supporting device



Dec. 19, 1950, A. R. HEDBERG WORK SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed July 14, 1945Fig/.1

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig/.2

INVENTOR.

Dec. 19, 1950 A. R. HEDBERG WORK SUPPORTING DEVICE-Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 14, 1945' g 4 INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 19, 1950 NT F F ICE.

WORK SUPPORTING nnvroE AldrichR. Hedberg, Cleveland, Ohio, assigncr; bydirect and; mesne' assignments, of one-half. to

Melvin. ELLor'entz- Application July--14, 1945; SerialNo. 605.105.

7wClaims. 1v

Myinvention relates in-general to mobile-die assembly devices. and moreparticularly to a self-contained stripper actuating worksupport device.

Anobject ofimy'invention'is-to providea selfcontained actuatingdevice-which is bodily shiftable to a firstipositionremoved from amachine, and to a second position in operating relationship with respectto the machine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved mobilestripping and work supporting-device for moving a die unit under a presswithout introducing the hands'of the operator intothe danger area underthe press platen.

Another object'of my invention is the provision of, a work supportingand actuating device having a work supporting plate-that will permitforce to be exertedtherethrough from the actuating device to the-work inany one of a multitude of possible paths or positions.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a work supportingactuating device for a machine capable of being withdrawn from theactive area of the machine for ease of loadin and safety of operation.

Another objectof my invention is the. provision of a mobile work.supporting and stripping actuating device for a die assembly, in which aportion of the die assembly-is adapted to bewithdrawn from the pressafter eachoperation, wherein the stripping. device remains alwaysaligned with the dies when in place for operation and when removedtherefrom.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of myinvention may be had byreferring to the following description and. claims taken in conjunctionwith'the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure-1v is a cross-sectionalview of my improved device as it appearsin rest position'taken along the line l.-l of Figure 3, andisillustrated in use with a die assembly illustrated in crosssectionthrough its centerline; the press platen being diagrammatical Figure 2is a view similar to the Figure 1 showing the. diagrammatical'pressplaten in its downward position operating. the assembly;

Figure 3 is a plan view of my device and a track bed therefor shownpartially in section alongthe line s-ser. Figure 1; and

Figured is a side view of the device and track bed therefor.v

Withreference, to. the Figural of the drawingar illustrate a deviceemploying the. principlesof my, invention. as it may be used. in co' n-2 junction. with. a die assembly described inmy Patent No. 2,379,003dated June26, 1945... The die assembly is illustrated as comprising adie29. with. openingsv 2i, therethrough. The. reference character 22indicatesa stripper platev with openings Fi l therein and with guidepins 23 fastened thereto, the guide pins 23eXtendingtherefrom intoopenings 2% of the die 26. A workpiece whichis to be punchedor otherwiseformed may be positioned between the die it} and the stripper plate 22,and'is then. held against lateral movement by fitting into a nest 2'5comprisinga member which pe'rimet'rically surrounds the workpiece, "theopposite sides of the nest 25' being shown in cross-section "in theFigure 1 of'the drawing. A base plate '23 is shown resting on a worksupporting top plate '2'? of my improved device. Piercing punches 3! areillustrated'with this particulardie assembly. The punches 31, in eithercase, are provided with a suitable ehgaging surface in order that theymay be securely held against endwise movement during the operation ofthe die assembly. Clamps 35 are provided to hold the die assembly in theproperlocationupon'the top-2i, andi'may b'e-provided-with-holding bolts23 as illustrated, or may beheld in' any oneoi several well-knownways.Although I have illustrated this die assembly for the-purpose ofdescribing the operation oi'rn'y improvedmovable work' supporting andactuat ing device, neither'the die assembly nor the im provedworksupporting and actuating deviceis dependent upon the other for utility.The die assemblyv maybe used with other types ofstripping devices, and.the improved supporting and actuating device may be used-for otherforming and actuating purposes.

My invention-embraces the conception of floatingly mounting abody upon amobile carriage means in order to provide a fully self-contained worksupporting and actuating means foruse with a punch press .or. similarpieceof machinery. The. device, as. illustrated, provides completesafety for the operator of the machinery, and facilitates the placingofwork pieces imposition for working and forming operations. The preferred form of my invention, asillustratedin the drawings,includes apressure plate support base 36 and the top member 2] rigidly held andspaced from one another by means of blocks 3'1. Thus,

a space.isprovidedbetween the pressure plate base*3B and the,worksupportingtop 21 in which "an actuating. force exertingmeans may be10+ bated; In the illustrated embodiment, theactuv .ating force exertingmeans comprises aram 38 which is in the form of a cylinder operativelymounted for endwise movement upon a ram base 39 which is in the form ofa piston. The movement of the ram is guided by bolts 40, and the endwisemovement is limited by means of limit stops 4 l The ram and base providean expansion chamber 42 which is supplied with a compressed fluid suchas compressed air by means of a duct 43 entering the chamber 42 throughan inlet 44. The expansion chamb r 42 is sealed ag inst leakage by meansof leat er or other suitable packing 45 secured in place within theexpan ion chamber 42 and to the ram base 39 by means of a holder ring 6.Bolts 41 are used to secure the holder ring 46 tightly in place upon theram base 39. The floor of the expansion chamber is provided by the rambase 39, and is preferably slo ed somewhat towards the center andprovided with a drain Opening and l g 48. This drain and plug isprovided to drain the expan ion chamber 42 of any unwanted condensate,such as moisture precipitating from compressed air. Thus. it will beseen, compressed fluid may be supplied to the expansion chamber 42through the inlet 44 to urge the ram 38 towards the work sup orting top21.

Force transmittine. exten ion pins 49 are provided to trans er motivepower from the ram 38 to the exterior of the devi e, and in theillustrations, are. utilized in o erating the die assembly as astripping actuating means. Howev r. as formerly pointed out, the powertransferred t ereby may be used for other p rposes i desired. T e top21. as best illust ated in Fi re 3. is perforated to rovide a pluralitof openings 59 th rethrou h in ord r to accommodat the extension pins 49and therefore is referred to as the perforated l te of this supportingand actuatin device. That is. t e e tension ins 59 are pre erablv unconncted to the ram 38 in order t at tbev mav be mo ed from place to p aceas be t suit d for the p rticular die, ass mbly or other o'oerat n conitions under which th v are to s rve. T us, one or more of the extensionpins 4.9 ma be used with any particular set-up, and the m y he l ced inany su t ble. op ning of the lural t of openin s 59. Great ut litv isthus c om l hed by u n th too m mbev 21 provi ed with t e luralit oooenin s in. It is s ldo fo d that a. sne' l too member 21 is requ r d.be au e the l r lit o o nings 59 provid sub tant ll an in nit var tv o obinations t ro gh which t e ext n on nin 49 mav ext nd. T s. r u h la ornd a l r e stock of work su port n to plates is avoided.

Alt o gh t e de ice as described ma be used as a ermanent fixture tostand in only one fixed po ition. T. have ound that the ser ice and theutilitv o the device is r atly increa ed b placm it up n a p o il carriameans. In t e preferred embodi ent of this fe t re. T emninv runnerblocks at oppo ite. sides of th body base. These runn r loc s are uported u on a ball carria e 52 comprising a hall plate 53 prnploying;balls 54 ther in. A track ba e 5 is provided with ball tracks 56. andthe runner blocks 5| are provided with similar ball tracks 51. The balls54- are interpo ed between the ball tracks 56 and 51, and are held inposition and prevented from walking by means of the ball positioningplate 53. Thus, the runner blocks 5| may move upon the balls 54 upon thetrack base 55 to reciprocably carry the device and the die assemblyunder and away from the influence of a punch platen;

diagrammatically illustrated by the reference character 39. The ballplate 53 is in no Way secured to the members of the body base or therunner block 5|, but is constrained against accidental misplacement orexcessive walking by the provision of cleats 58 and stop blocks 59, asbest illustrated in the Figures 3 and 4. It will be seen from theillustrations, that the stop block 59 is so disposed that the devicewill be held against accidental overrunning of the track base by theprovision of front and rea skirts 60 to contact the stop block 59. Thatis, if the device were moved an excessive distance forward or backwardupon the track 55, either the front or back skirt 69 would strike thestop block 59 and thus prevent the device from moving further. Ofcourse, as previously explained, the same stop block 59 preventsaccidental misplacement of the ball carriage 52. To better illustratethis preferred embodiment of my invention. I have shown the Figure 3half in plan and half in section for the Figure l with the die assemblyremoved. The first vertical portion of the line 33 is indicated in theFigure 3 by the reference numeral 32. The first vertical portion extendsinto the chamber 42. The second vertical section of the line isindicated by the reference numeral 33.

Although the device may he supported directly upon the runner blocks 5!as described, I have found that a firmer base and better operation maybe provided by floatingly mounting the device upon the runner blocks 5 iThat is, I have found that providing springs 5| interposed between thespacer blocks 37 and the runner blocks 5! will permit the device to beseated upon the track base 55 during the interval of operation by thepunch platen 39. The springs 5! will be compressed during the period ofdownward pressure and permit the pressure plate support base 35 to movedown upon the track base 55 and provide the resisting support to theaction of the platen 39. Thereafter, of course, the springs 6| willreturn the device to its former floating condition with the pressureplate positioned a distance away from the track base in order that themobile carriage means may freely carry the device.

In operation, for use with the die assembly as illustrated, the worksupporting actuating device may be rolled upon a punch press bed toposition the die assembly under the press platen and to withdraw the dieassembly therefrom. For example, the device may be pulled from under theplaten 39 towards the operator to become accessible for loading andunloading the die assembly. That is when the device is pulled from underthe platen 39, the die 29 may be removed and a work piece placed inposition for operation Within the nest part 25. The die 20 may then bereplaced. Thereafter, the work supporting actuating device may be movedback under the press platen 30 and the platen 39 caused to move downupon the die assembly as illustrated in the Figure 2. The press may beeither automatically or hand controlled as desired. Fluid pressure issupplied constantly to the chamber 42 as described, and thereforeconstantly urges the ram 39 upwardly to keep the die 29 ofi" of thepunches 3!. When the platen 39 is moved downwardly as described, thefluid within the chamber 42 is compressed and strongly urges the forcetransmitting pins 49 and the die assembly against the action of theplaten 39. After the platen 39 is moved to its upward position, asillustrated in the Figure 1, the fluid in the chamber 42 is then free toexpang and push the ram 38 and the pins 49 upplate. 22.

be withdrawn from underithe platen '3ilxand the described cycle may thenbe repeated.

'lthough .I havev described my'invention with acertain degree ofparticularity in its preferred form, and; it is "understood ;that thepresenttdisclosure cflth'e .preiierred' iorm has been made only by wayof example and that numerous changes in the details of constructionand-the combination and arrangement of parts l: sresorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the inventionnas hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1; Axwork supporting device, comprising combination, a. pressure. plate,force exerting means mounted on said pressure plate, .a perforatedzplatemounteda distance above said pressure plate, said force exerting meansexerting a forcein the direction or"- said perforated plate, and forcetransmission means extending from said iforcer exerting means throughsaid perforated plate to transmit force therethrough, mobile: carriagemeans to carry said device relative to-said'work base, said mobilecarriage means including runner block meansh'aving a ball race therein,said work base comprising a track base to'carry said-carriage means,said track base havinga ball race therein, aplurality of ballspositioned between said runner block means and said track base in saidball races, a ball positions inggplate having a plurality of spacedopenings therethrough, said plate being positionedbetween said runnerblock means and said track base with said balls positioned in said plateopenings, and resilient mounting means positioned to support said deviceon the runner block means and to urge said device and the block means adistance apart, whereby said mobile carriage means is free to carry thedevice relative to the base, said resilient mounting means beingcompressible to permit said pressure plate to move toward and rest uponsaid base.

2. A work supporting device adapted to be mounted upon a base, said worksupporting device comprising, in combination, a bod including aperforated plate and a pressure plate, spacer blocks securing saidperforated plate and said pressure plate as a unit and spacing saidperforated plate and said pressure plate apart. mobile carriage means tocarry said body upon said base, force exerting means carried by saidpressure plate to exert a force in the direction of said per foratedplate, force transmission means extending from said force exerting meansthrough said perforated plate to the exterior of said movable worksupporting device, and resilient means supporting said body on saidmobile carriage means with the said body pressure plate held away fromsaid base, whereby said mobile carriage means is free to carry thedevice relative to the base, said resilient means being compressible topermit said pressure plate to move toward and rest upon said base andsupport the work, said device being immobile when said pressure plate isresting on the base, and said resilient means urging said pressure plateaway from said base while the said pressure plate is seated upon saidbase.

3. A work supporting device adapted for support upon a work base,comprising in combination, a pressure plate, force exertin means mountedon said pressure plate, a perforated plate mounted a distance above saidpressure plate, .said; force exerting means exerting? a. force in'the'direction of said pe'rforatedplate, and force. transmission meansextending from said force exerting means through said perforated plateto transmit force'therethrough, mobile carriage means to carry saiddevice relative tosaid work base, and resilient means to urge saidpres.- sure plate away from said work base, whereby said; mobilecarriage: means is free. to carry the "evice; relative to. the. workbase, said-resilient means being compressible to permit'said pressure"plate to move toward andirest upon said base :andsupport the work, saiddevice being immobile when said pressure plate is resting'on the base.

4. In a die assembly for use in a press, including dies to hold a Workpiece therebetween, a

base plate and punch means having means therebetween to oppose'axialmovement'of the punch means; one-ofsaid dies serving as a punch guideand the otherof providing forming surfac'esin combinationwith said punchmeans, the said diesbeing disposed. to reciprocally move :as a unit uponthe punch means under the action of thepress, the provision of animproved'stripping actuating means, comprising'a mobile work supportingactuating device, a carriage means to carry said device, a track base,said carriage meansbeing movable upon said track base, resilientelements to floatingly support said mobile work supporting actuatingdevice upon said carriage means, fluid actuating means carried'by saidmobile work supporting actuating device, and force. transmissionmeansfexten'dihg' from said 'fluidactuating means to said die assembly,the: combination of dies and actuating means being movable toward saidtrack base by the action of the press to force the dies upon the punchmeans, and said resilient element being compressible by the action ofthe press to allow the mobile work supporting actuating means to restupon the track base, the said device thereafter returning the dies totheir original position as the influence of the press is removed, andthe resilient elements returning the work supporting actuating device toa floating position as the influence of the press is removed.

5. In a die set of the type in which a first die assembly and a seconddie assembly are mounted for relative motion to bring the dies togetherto work a sheet of material disposed therebetween and in which one ofthe said dies is supported by a relatively thin backup plate and isprovided with a stripper plate for ejection of the worked sheet from thesaid one die, a universal stripping arrangement adapted for actuaton ofstripper plates of various shapes and sizes Which may be mounted in saiddie set, comprising a plurality of stripping pins received withinclosely spaced chambers formed in a die shoe, said chambers term'natingin the surface of said die shoe which receives said backup plate, saidchambers constituting a major portion of the stripping area of the dieshoe and spaced by walls which are adapted to support the one dieassembly, and means for yieldingly urging said stripper pins in unsontoward said one die assembly engaging surface of the die shoe.

'6. A supporting and actuating device for a material form ng means of anature to become frictionally engaged with a workpiece in theperformance of work thereon, said supporting and actuating devicecomprising, a work unit and a carriage, said work unit including a dcshoe plate having a support surface and a plurality of openingsextending from said surface transversely 7 through said die shoe plate,a fluid actuated primary mover means having a table surface mounted formovement toward the die shoe plate on the side thereof opposite saidsupport surface, force transmission pin members dimensioned to beinsertable through said openings in the die shoe plate to contact saidtable surface, and resilient mounting means normally holding said Workunit supported by said carriage above a surface for transport movementrelative to said surface, said work unit being movable by force againstsaid resilient mounting means to seat said work unit upon the surfacesupporting the carriage to thereby immovably support the work unitdirectly upon said surface.

7. A supporting and actuating device for ma-- terial forming means of anature to become frictionally engaged with a workpiece in theperformance of work thereon, said supporting and actuating devicecomprising, a die shoe plate having a support surface and a plurality ofopenings extending from said surface transversely through said die shoeplate, said openings forming a pattern covering the major portion of thesupport surface, primary mover means having a table surface mounted formovement toward the die shoe plate on the side thereof opposite saidsupport surface, and force transmission pin members dimensioned to beinsertable through said openings in the die shoe plate and extend fromsaid die plate to contact said table surface, a plurality of said forcetransmission pin members extending through selected ones of saidopenings and contacting said table surface, said plurality of pins beingfewer than the number of said open ings and in such a ratio to thenumber of open- .ings that a wide variety of pin patterns can bearranged, said dimensioning of the pin members thereby rendering the pinmembers selectively positionable in any selected opening, withoutdismantling said support and actuating device, by withdrawing the pinmembers from the support surface side of the die shoe plate and droppingsaid pin members into another selected opening.

ALDRICH R. HEDBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 512,415 Turner Jan. 9, 18941,038,502 McCabe Sept. 10, 1912 1,170,455 Mason Feb. 1, 1916 1,194,268Bauchwitz Aug. 8, 1916 1,279,851 Dunlap Sept. 24, 1918 1,443,789Humphreys Jan. 30, 1923 1,898,273 Stevens Feb. 21, 1933 1,915,531 IrmisJune 27, 1933 2,009,660 Irmis July 30, 1935 2,041,530 Dewitt May 19,1936 2,323,431 Wales July 6, 1943 2,325,290 Wales July 27, 19432,325,990 Wales Aug. 3, 1943 2,417,414 Hornberger Mar. 18, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 640,303 France Mar. 24, 1928

